As a nonprofit leader, you’re in the business of hope. You take care of the vulnerable. You provide food, shelter, education, health care, and other support. You won’t abide racist systems. You inspire through access to the arts; you preserve culture and history. Most importantly, you offer hope—for individuals, communities, and the world.
But, we also live in the real world. Budgets still have to balance. Internal and external factors limit what you can accomplish. Staff must be savvy and use time and resources to maximize impact.
So, how do we balance optimism and pragmatism?
How do we lean into hope while staying grounded in reality?
Without optimism, we can’t offer the world any solutions.
Without pragmatism, our organization’s health will suffer, and we might dissolve.
Walking a Tightrope
The nonprofit sector needs both—idealists and realists. Some of us feel like we’re walking a tightrope between the two every day.
Optimism—and even idealism—is the heartbeat of your mission. It drives your vision of a better world, rallies the team, and helps you work tirelessly for change.
Pragmatism—or realism—is the grounding force. It helps you navigate limitations and make strategic decisions that ensure sustainability and effectiveness.
Often this tightrope walk becomes evident during a strategic planning process. You want to dream and identify your organization’s Big Hairy Audacious Goal. But, you also need to be able to pay for it. If you’re the leader or a development team member, you know that money must be raised before it can be spent fulfilling the mission.
Embrace the Tension
Living in that tension is an essential skill for nonprofit professionals. In fact, if you’ve ever tried to walk a tightrope, you know that the tension is actually what makes it possible to get across! If there isn’t enough tension in the rope/wire, it’s much more likely that you’ll fall.
Use the tension to help you:
Find the courage to consider a different perspective. If you tend toward optimism, try looking at a challenge through a pragmatic lens, or vice versa.
Ask questions. By leading with curiosity, you can promote meaningful dialogue that incorporates a multitude of voices and perspectives. You might be surprised by the lens others bring to the situation.
Foster a culture of balanced thinking. Intentionally create working groups with folks who see things differently and are willing to challenge your ideas.
Think more creatively. Diversity of perspectives and life experiences on teams has proven to increase creativity and innovation.
Finding Balance
Balancing realism and idealism in nonprofit leadership isn’t easy, but it’s crucial. Blending bold aspirations with realistic strategies will steer your organization toward greater impact. Remember: balancing these perspectives will create a powerful force for good.
Photo by Aravindhan C on pexels.com.
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